Yesterday I took my father-in-law to the doctor. While there, Bram found two children about his age to play with. I was so proud when he walked up to the first little girl and said
I'm Bram. I'm fwee (three). Let's pway (play).
Yes! I'm doing a good job. I've taught him so well. I must be a pretty good mom after all. I was proud as a peacock. But the pride was short lived. Out of nowhere he announced to his new playmate, in a very loud voice to be sure everyone in the office could hear
Bram: Our house is messy.
Playmate: We clean a lot.
Bram: We don't.
D'oh! What a horrible mother I am. Brand my forehead now with Horrible Homekeeper! I'm ruining my kids. They'll never learn responsibility if I can't keep the house clean.
But I remind myself
I'm Bram. I'm fwee (three). Let's pway (play).
Yes! I'm doing a good job. I've taught him so well. I must be a pretty good mom after all. I was proud as a peacock. But the pride was short lived. Out of nowhere he announced to his new playmate, in a very loud voice to be sure everyone in the office could hear
Bram: Our house is messy.
Playmate: We clean a lot.
Bram: We don't.
D'oh! What a horrible mother I am. Brand my forehead now with Horrible Homekeeper! I'm ruining my kids. They'll never learn responsibility if I can't keep the house clean.
But I remind myself
Ecclesiastes 3 A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Sometimes my house will be clean. Schedules will run smoothly and the sun will shine without fail. Other times trials will creep in and the rain will fall.
But there is a purpose to it all.
I'm striving to not get caught up in the messiness of life; to embrace trials as character-building exercises handed out by a loving parent who wants to see me grow and succeed in life.
That's funny. I know it wasn't for you and it wouldn't be for me, but it's funny that he thought to include it as part of his introduction. You know, like go ahead and get it out in the open. If it's a problem, them let's just move on and make different friends, right?
ReplyDeleteMy house is a mess, too. It seems like we never make it to decluttering or even decorating because it's all we can do to get dishes, laundry, and basic picking up/putting away in during the day. We should meet sometime!
And you are not alone. My 10-year old used to make stuff up just for shock value. There was one day when she was 8 or 9 and she got out of the van and told the person getting out of the car next to us (whom we didn't know) that I only let her shower once a month. My chin hit the ground as my mind raced about what that woman must have thought - did she believe it, was she judging me? Of course, it isn't true, but I always feel like people judge me anyway.
God is my only judge and He will see me through Christ's perfection when I stand before Him!
Love it! Like the above commenter, my kids love shock value as well. My kindergartener last year had a kid in his class convinced that we didn't have beds and ate grubworms for dinner. Thankfully the boy's mom laughed about it.
ReplyDeleteOh now, that's cute!
ReplyDelete:) Janet
www.homeward4.blogspot.com
Love this entry :). Bram was so funny without even knowing it. I love that in children. So pure and innocent!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind when houses are a little messy. I guess most of us are a little messy and I don't think life is about being the neatest person on earth anyway ;). Life has to be lived!
love it, thank you for sharing~
ReplyDeletejust stumbled on your great blog.
God bless~
Thank you for posting this! I love your blog and have given you the Stylish Blogger Award on my site here:
ReplyDeletehttp://ourseasonsofjoy.com/general/im-stylish-whoda-thunk-it/